How to Feed Bullfrog Tadpoles

Bullfrogs commonly live in lakes, ponds and swamps. The bullfrog female can lay up to 20,000 eggs that hatch into tadpoles within three to five days. A tadpole can take a year to become a full-grown bullfrog or it can take a few years depending on the bullfrog species and location. Many bullfrogs are commonly kept as pets. In captivity, it is not uncommon for a bullfrog to live 15 years. Tadpoles can hatch all year but they are the most abundant in June and July. Bullfrogs are carnivores but tadpoles are herbivores.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Pond water from pool where tadpoles were taken
• Aquarium
• Flake aquarium fish food
• Pelleted aquarium fish food
• Aquatic plants
• Aquarium filter

1. Place bullfrog tadpoles into an aquarium filled with the pond water they naturally lived in. The water is filled with algae particles and other material that the tadpoles can consume to adjust to their new life in an aquarium as you begin to care for them. This will help their transition from pond to tank. It will insure that the tadpoles do not stop eating due to stress. Tadpoles should never be put in chlorinated water.

2. Feed bullfrog tadpoles flake aquarium fish food. Feed a pinch of food per day per tadpole. The tadpoles will soon learn to swim to the top of the tank to consume the flakes. Tadpoles can easily smell food in the water and will readily swim towards it.

3. Wait a week and then begin to feed a pinch of flake fish food with a pinch of pelleted aquarium fish food once per day. The pellets will often sink to the gravel at the bottom of the aquarium where the tadpoles can rummage for the food at will.

4. Add live aquatic plants to the aquarium for the tadpoles to enjoy nibbling. Local fish and aquarium stores sell a diverse range of aquatic plants that easily grow in an aquarium setting. These are all nontoxic to fish and tadpoles. The tadpole will benefit from the addition of these live plants to its diet.

5. Filter the aquarium using an aquarium filter and maintain its cleanliness for the health of the tadpoles. However, if a little bit of algae grows on the aquarium's glass, do not worry because the tadpoles will enjoy snacking on it. Algae is a natural food for bullfrog tadpoles in the wild.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not keep fish with the tadpoles. Predatory fish will often eat bullfrog tadpoles, while others may nip at them and kill them.

References

• Aqualand Fact Sheets: How to Successfully Keep Your New Tadpole
• Bullfrogs: Bullfrog Tadpoles
• Frogland: Bullfrogs

Resources

• University of Michigan Museum Of Zoology: North American Bullfrog